1950s-1960s Trends While design innovation in the Canadian household furniture industry declined in the late 1950s and 1960s, the office furniture industry increased its investment in design and product development. The last fifteen years has seen major consolidation - Artopex absorbed BNI International and Tec Innovations; Teknion purchased Squirewood, Leif Jacobsen and Roy and Breton; other companies bought new plants or expanded old ones. This strategy resulted in the office sector outperforming the household until the 2002 downturn in the US economy reduced export sales.

Canadian Office and Household Shipments in millions of dollars

1950s-1960s Trendsetters Three office furniture pioneers in Canada during this time set design trends. Robin Bush designed "Prismasteel" in 1958 for Canadian Office and School Furniture; Jacques Guillon and his team designed the Alumna office desk (see below) with a patented slotted-leg extrusion in 1961 for Art Woodwork; Doug Ball, who had designed and engineered several early office panel-based "systems," first introduced the use of post-and-beam design in 1978, with his Race System for Sunar in Montreal, which is still produced today by the US manufacturer Haworth.

Art Woodwork - Alumna desk, 1961 (Jacques Gillion and Associates)

Current Trends Investment in the office sector has also seen the introduction of environmental programs (often lacking in the household sector) and eco-friendly powder coating to reduce solvent emission. Research continues in the ergonomics of the office, resulting in better workstation and adjustable chair design (see sidebar for links). Architects committed to the LEED program use their influence with clients to promote green furnishings. And, to give credit where it is due, the Canadian industry is also responding to the environmental commitment made by US manufacturers Herman Miller, Knoll and others.

Nienkamper - Vox Office (Mark Müller)

Design Investment The most impressive investment Canada has made is in design and designers for this sector, whether hiring an in-house team or using Canadian or international freelance designers. Listed below are Canadian office furniture manufacturers working with Canadian designers.

[3] As this chart is subject to ongoing revision, please contact VCR about errors or additions.

Teknion - Transit panel system (in-house design team)

For detailed analysis of the Canadian office industry see The Canadian Demand For Office Furniture And Trends.

Source: Statistics Canada, [1] NAICS 33712 less NAICS 337127 (institutional furniture) [2] NAICS 3372 less NAICS 337125 (showcases, partitions, shelving, locker manufacturing). Values are estimated for 2003 and 2004.